Paxton seeks to revoke O’Rourke group’s charter over fundraising for Texas House Democrats 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is looking to revoke the charter of former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) political organization, Powered by People, over its fundraising for Texas House Democrats who fled the state. 

In an amended petition, the filing pointed out that “the Attorney General can terminate a Texas corporation’s right to do business in Texas ‘whenever sufficient cause exists.’” 

The filing alleged that Powered by People committed bribery and the hindering of fugitive apprehension in raising money to help Texas House Democrats offset the costs of leaving the state as they blocked Republicans from passing a GOP-friendly congressional map. 

Powered by People “has not only violated each of these penal code provisions, but has persisted in its violations in contravention of this Court’s August 8, 2025 [temporary restraining order], and has done so in a particularly egregious manner that has brought the Texas House of Representatives to a legislative standstill and prevented the State’s ability to address critical State interests, including flood relief, property tax relief, public school reforms, matters relating to the protection of women’s privacy, and congressional re-districting for the people of this State,” the filing alleged. 

The Hill has reached out to a spokesman for O’Rourke for comment. 

Paxton has sought to put legal pressure on O’Rourke and his political group as they’ve looked to raise money for the Texas lawmakers who fled the state.  

The lawmakers have been out of the state for close to two weeks to stop new congressional lines from passing. Texas GOP lawmakers gaveled in a second special session on Friday afternoon, and Texas Democrats are expected to return to the state soon. 

A Texas judge earlier this month ordered a temporary restraining order against O’Rourke and his Powered by People group for fundraising for the Texas Democrats, after Paxton alleged the group was misleading donors. O’Rourke said he was suing Paxton in response. 

Earlier this week, Paxton also sought O’Rourke’s arrest, arguing he had violated the temporary restraining order put in place that was meant to block him from raising money.

O’Rourke, meanwhile, argued that Paxton was mischaracterizing some of his remarks at a past rally, saying they were made about the broader redistricting battle at play rather than about violating a judge’s court order.